Golf: Retief relief as Brooks is blown away

Retief Goosen finally got his hands on the U.S. Open trophy following one of the most remarkable displays of mental fortitude yesterday.

Perpetrator of the worst choke in this tournament's 101-year history one day, he was able to laugh about it the next after shooting 70 to overcome Mark Brooks by two shots in the 18-hole play-off.

The fact that his victory stemmed from a flawless display on the greens provided the ultimate irony, given that he had three-putted from 12 feet on the 72nd green the previous evening to hand Brooks his lifeline.

Goosen became just the fifth non-American to win the title in the last 70 years - and he did it the hard way. His victory also provided a boost for the European Tour, where he plays most of his golf. It was the first win by a Europe-based player in a major since Paul Lawrie won the 1999 Open.

Goosen said: 'I really had to work for this one. I feel like I have been playing this tournament for about a year but it's all worth it now. It's just amazing to win.'

You might think spectators attending such a drawn-out play-off could have arrived in the same taxi. But one of the few groups to appreciate the U.S. Open staying an extra 24 hours in Tulsa were the locals, who poured through the gates. Grandstands were packed on each hole long before the two protagonists came into view.

They provided the atmosphere that helped compensate for the inevitable sense of anti-climax which 18-hole play-offs bring.

On American television Johnny Miller - why can't our golf commentators take a leaf from his book and tell it like it is? - did not try to patronise his audience. He said: '18-hole play-offs are like kissing your sister.'

Yet clearly the drama of the previous day had provoked its own interest beyond the lack of charisma of the players on display. Would Goosen have recovered from his nightmare at the 72nd? Could Brooks, the son of a preacher man, benefit from his gift from the golfing gods?

There were two theories regarding Goosen. One said there was no way he could recover in time from the most bizarre finish in U.S. Open history. The other said that the break would certainly prove more helpful than if he had competed straight away in a sudden-death play-off.

When Goosen knocked his approach to the opening hole into a greenside bunker it looked as if the former theory was going to prevail. Goosen, however, is known for his even temperament.

His close friend, Ernie Els, said on Sunday afternoon: 'He's like me in the sense that he is able to cocoon himself in his own golf.'

Goosen concentrated on the shot in hand and played it almost flawlessly, the ball running 25 feet before grazing the flag and snuggling up two inches from the hole.

The Ascot-based South African scrambled well at the next two holes as well but fell one behind when his Texan opponent knocked in a six-foot birdie putt at the third.

Brooks, from Fort Worth, Texas - like Ben Hogan and Justin Leonard - had a simple game plan, to grind his way to victory.

Over the opening holes he was clearly the dominant force, using his experience of winning the 1996 U.S. PGA to good effect. Goosen hung in, though, continuing to scramble well, as at the fifth, where he got down in two from off the green.

At the sixth, Goosen notched his first birdie from four feet and that was the start of a dramatic sequence of holes that changed the tone of the play-off completely.

Brooks hit the first of a series of crooked drives at the seventh and it cost him a bogey, causing him to fall behind for the first time. His tee shot at the ninth finished behind a tree and he was doubly punished when Goosen rolled in a remarkable 20-foot birdie putt that must have had at least six feet of borrow. Over the opening nine holes Goosen had single-putted seven greens and enjoyed a three-shot lead.

The 10th proved equally profitable for him as he holed another medium length birdie putt. He was four under par for his round and now he had a five-shot advantage.

Brooks was visibly rattled. When Goosen finally made a mistake at the 12th, Brooks failed to take advantage, clunking a wedge and walking off with an identical bogey to his opponent.

The American finally made inroads into Goosen's lead, making up two shots at the 17th, but it was too little, too late.

Having thrown away the trophy so spectacularly the previous day, Goosen clung gratefully to his second chance and when he walked up the last hole this time there was a profound sense of relief for Retief.